ONLY WHEN THE FORM OF PLAY IS A FACTOR WILL IT BE STATED If you do not have a Rules of Golf book handy, go to: http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rules-and-Decisions/ If you have any questions pertaining to this or previous quizzes, please ask. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Question from week #204 Gulliver's ball has come to rest about two feet from being out of bounds. There is an out of bounds stake directly opposite Gulliver’s ball. From the following statements, select all that could be true: 1. If the stake interferes with Gulliver's stance or stroke, he may temporarily remove the stake. 2. There could be a Local Rule which permits Gulliver to remove the stake, but only if the stake identifies the OB and is not used to define the OB. 3. As long as Gulliver does not remove the stake from the ground, it is okay for him to move it in place in fairly taking his stance and making his stroke. 4. If Gulliver, in fairly taking his stance, moves the stake there is no penalty, provided he replaces it before making his stroke.
2 and 4 are True; From the Definition for Out of Bounds: Out of Bounds stakes are treated as fixed and are not to be moved. This simple statement reveals why #1 is false. If a player removes a stake there is no escaping a penalty even if he returns the stake to its original position. When you read the definition you find two notes at the end. The second note states the Committee is permitted to make a Local Rule that essentially designates certain OB stakes as obstructions provided they do not define the OB but only identify it. For example, a stone wall is deemed to define the OB line on a particular hole. The Committee has also placed near the wall the occasional white stake to help identify the wall as the OB line. Because the stakes would be placed in the ground inside the OB line (bottom of the wall at ground level), they could interfere with normal play. The Committee could deem these stakes as obstructions on this hole. #3 and #4 essentially cover the same situation. R13-2 has a laundry list of things the player must not do under a variety of situations with exceptions for each. Putting together the proper clauses for this situation, here is what you should come up with: The player must not improve or allow to be improved...the area of his intended stance or swing...by...moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including immovable obstruction and objects defining out of bounds.) However, the player incurs no penalty if the action occurs ...in fairly taking his stance.) We have the general requirement that we cannot move an OB stake. We also acknowledge the player is entitled to fairly take his stance. This use of the term “fairly” should be interpreted to mean “in the least intrusive way possible”. This may seem to create a potential conflict. He’s allowed to fairly take his stance but he must not move an OB stake? Which Rule overrides and dominates this dilemma? From (2) above we already know the Rules permit an exception to the general Rule not to move an OB stake (a specific Local Rule). So too, R13-2 also creates a specific Rule that exempts the player from a breach in very limited circumstances. You need to recognize that fairly taking a stance is an act separate from that of making a stroke. If Gulliver goes to fairly take his stance and his butt accidentally bumps and moves the OB stake, this specific construct of R13-2 exempts the player from penalty for the bump and movement—provided Gulliver steps back, returns the stake to its original position, and tries again. To avoid penalty, Gulliver must return the stake to its original position. He cannot make a stroke with the stake moved even if it was moved as a result of him fairly taking his stance or in making his stroke without incurring a penalty. THINK: If the movement was accidental in fairly taking your stance, correct it. If the stake is left in the moved position, this then is no longer accidental and the player would be penalized. =============================================================== | 
